The 27th of April was a history defining moment in automotive history and more so for British marque Aston Martin. A hydrogen powered Rapide S lapped the gruelling and testing Nurburgring circuit - the first car to do so.
The test run was deemed as a perfect test run ahead of a formal record breaking attempt at the ADAC Zurich 24 Hours of Nurburgring (N24) next month - in which the Hybrid Hydrogen Rapide S will line up alongside a field of over 200 GT cars.
Dr Bez commented, "I am incredibly proud of the Aston Martin team, and our partners Alset Global. We have written a little motorsport history with this qualifying lap as well as finishing the four-hour race on hydrogen and, of course, it bodes extremely well for our participation in the 24 Hours of Nurburgring in three weeks' time."
The Rapide S hydrogen hybrid will become the first hydrogen-powered car to compete in an international event as well as the first emissions free sports car to complete a race pace lap at the Nurburgring 24-hour race. The car will compete in an experimental class (E1-XP) having passed rigorous technical and safety assessments by the German motorsport authority, the DMSB, to be granted approval to race.
Development of the ground-breaking hybrid system - created by technical partners Alset Global and pioneered by Aston Martin in the race - has exceeded expectations, leading to the historic hydrogen-only lap of the infamous 'green hell'. The collaborative effort have developed a prototype twin turbocharged 6.0-litre V12 engine that powers the car.
It will be refuelled after each stint with 3.5kg of hydrogen as well as gasoline. Capable of running on pure gasoline, pure gaseous hydrogen, or a blend of both, the Hybrid Hydrogen race car showcases Aston Martin's commitment to engineering innovation. In pure hydrogen mode the car emits virtually only water.
